Judith N. Rabinovitch is Karashima Tsukasa Professor of Japanese Language and Culture at the University of Montana. Her specialty is Japanese court literature written in Chinese. Timothy R. Bradstock is Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at the University of Montana.

Together they have brought the beauty of Kanshi style Japanese poetry (described below) to the University of Montana. Dr. Rabinovitch and Dr. Bradstock will be at The Bookstore at The University of Montana on Saturday October 7th from 11-12:30. They will be reading, discussing and signing “Dance of the Butterflies.”

The composition of Chinese poetry (kanshi) in the Japanese court dates to the mid-seventh century. During the Heian age (794-1185), kanshi emerged as one of two preeminent poetic genres employed by aristocrats, scholar-officials, and priests; over the centuries it developed into one of Japan’s most enduring literary forms. This anthology, comprising some 300 kanshi by 80 poets, is the largest collection of translated kanshi ever produced. It includes an introduction to the kanshi genre, biographies of the poets, and extensive annotations. The poems sketch a graceful panorama of life in the Heian capital and in the provinces, offering rare glimpses into the private concerns, tastes, and aspirations of the well-born people of the times.